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The World's Biggest Cash Machine: Manchester United, the Glazers, and the Struggle for Football's Soul
From Chris Blackhurst, the former Editor of the Independent , comes a gripping and tightly reported account of how the Glazers, owners of Manchester United, became the most maligned figures in the Premier League, and how they changed the beautiful game forever.
Manchester United’s supporters span the globe and cross generations. But, with few exceptions, they are united in their anger with the American family who bought their club in 2005, plunging it into record levels of debt. The Glazers’ reign has become synonymous with the financialization of football, and has coincided with fan protests and a decline of Manchester United’s fortunes on the pitch . . . if not on the balance sheet.
But what defines this secretive family, and do these astute businessmen deserve the opprobrium they receive? In this captivating account, informed by interviews with key figures behind the scenes, journalist and commentator Chris Blackhurst charts the gripping story of the world’s biggest football club – as well as exploring the wider transformation of the Premier League into a playground for billionaire owners.
Manchester United’s supporters span the globe and cross generations. But, with few exceptions, they are united in their anger with the American family who bought their club in 2005, plunging it into record levels of debt. The Glazers’ reign has become synonymous with the financialization of football, and has coincided with fan protests and a decline of Manchester United’s fortunes on the pitch . . . if not on the balance sheet.
But what defines this secretive family, and do these astute businessmen deserve the opprobrium they receive? In this captivating account, informed by interviews with key figures behind the scenes, journalist and commentator Chris Blackhurst charts the gripping story of the world’s biggest football club – as well as exploring the wider transformation of the Premier League into a playground for billionaire owners.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 26, 2023
26 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 22, 2023
An excellent read.
I will preface this by saying I am a Liverpool fan and quite enjoying seeing Manchester United underperform on the pitch but at heart am a fan of the beautiful game and enjoy the sport no matter who plays, and would hate to see a United or club run into the ground.
Though this book is focused on Man Utd, I found it a very eye opening and interesting read. The Glazers and their stewardship of Manchester United is very clear to me and I know all the things they have done with regards the debt and only being interesting in what they can glean from the club as an asset.
I found very interesting how United functioned prior to the sale. It seems the clubs fans has always detested their owners from Louis Edwards acquisition, the passing of the torch to his son Martin (interesting autobiography too) taking it public and the present with the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe incoming within days of my review.
It was intriguing to see how cunning the acquisition of Manchester was, the slow burn and then taking advantage of the turmoil and being the saviours to get rid of the Irish problem only to do it in a distasteful and legal leveraged buy out. Reminiscent of Dr Wu in Jurassic Park, didn't think whether they should only that they could, and they did it and got away with it.
The fall out over the Rock of Gibralter was very interesting especially as the Irish were portrayed as villains of the piece when Sir Alex blurred the lines as "part owner" when he may not have been anything of the sort. How different things may have been has the agreement between them been on paper and not become a legal issue.
Even the possibility of Rupert Murdoch or Robert Maxwell owning the club, how different football could have been today. I wonder how Sky owning United would have been for the broadcast of football in the UK today?
It is an interesting read, even as someone who is happy to see United not be the team i grew up envious of. I do feel for teams with bad owners, us the fans suffer and are left to pick up the pieces. Football at heart is for the community but those days are now long gone. It is now the world's game and us the fans are the last thought. Fans won't matter except for squeezing more pounds out of us.
The end of the book touches on the recent developments regarding Qatar and Sir Jim. I can't help but feel after a new owner bounce nothing will really change and no doubt the Norwich scarves will be worn and 'Glazers Out' 'Ineos Out'. Sir Jim may be local but you don't become a billionaire by not being cunning and ruthless.
It seems whatever sports Ineos invests in the teams turn to shit. Mercedes, Nice, Team Sky Cycling, All Black's. I don't see him as the saviour he will be portrayed as.
Interesting months and years to come to see the impact of this new investment and what it means for Manchester United, the Glazers and Ineos.
The book is a great insight into the development of the club and how the Glazers have managed it. In terms of sporting success the clubs was doing fine until Fergie left. Since then it has stagnated whilst other clubs have invested and kicked on. United however have thrived off the pitch with lucrative partnerships and the commercial area of the club being well maintained and grown.
I will say this for the Glazers as business people they played a blinder in gaining United (bitter taste) and how it has grown in value over the years. They must have thick skin to ride out all the abuse and vitriol directed at them, they are focused on the profits and the billions they earn from the club will speak the volumes to them unlike the chants at Old Trafford.
I recommend this book, a great read by a respected journalist who is also a football fan.
I will preface this by saying I am a Liverpool fan and quite enjoying seeing Manchester United underperform on the pitch but at heart am a fan of the beautiful game and enjoy the sport no matter who plays, and would hate to see a United or club run into the ground.
Though this book is focused on Man Utd, I found it a very eye opening and interesting read. The Glazers and their stewardship of Manchester United is very clear to me and I know all the things they have done with regards the debt and only being interesting in what they can glean from the club as an asset.
I found very interesting how United functioned prior to the sale. It seems the clubs fans has always detested their owners from Louis Edwards acquisition, the passing of the torch to his son Martin (interesting autobiography too) taking it public and the present with the Glazers and Sir Jim Ratcliffe incoming within days of my review.
It was intriguing to see how cunning the acquisition of Manchester was, the slow burn and then taking advantage of the turmoil and being the saviours to get rid of the Irish problem only to do it in a distasteful and legal leveraged buy out. Reminiscent of Dr Wu in Jurassic Park, didn't think whether they should only that they could, and they did it and got away with it.
The fall out over the Rock of Gibralter was very interesting especially as the Irish were portrayed as villains of the piece when Sir Alex blurred the lines as "part owner" when he may not have been anything of the sort. How different things may have been has the agreement between them been on paper and not become a legal issue.
Even the possibility of Rupert Murdoch or Robert Maxwell owning the club, how different football could have been today. I wonder how Sky owning United would have been for the broadcast of football in the UK today?
It is an interesting read, even as someone who is happy to see United not be the team i grew up envious of. I do feel for teams with bad owners, us the fans suffer and are left to pick up the pieces. Football at heart is for the community but those days are now long gone. It is now the world's game and us the fans are the last thought. Fans won't matter except for squeezing more pounds out of us.
The end of the book touches on the recent developments regarding Qatar and Sir Jim. I can't help but feel after a new owner bounce nothing will really change and no doubt the Norwich scarves will be worn and 'Glazers Out' 'Ineos Out'. Sir Jim may be local but you don't become a billionaire by not being cunning and ruthless.
It seems whatever sports Ineos invests in the teams turn to shit. Mercedes, Nice, Team Sky Cycling, All Black's. I don't see him as the saviour he will be portrayed as.
Interesting months and years to come to see the impact of this new investment and what it means for Manchester United, the Glazers and Ineos.
The book is a great insight into the development of the club and how the Glazers have managed it. In terms of sporting success the clubs was doing fine until Fergie left. Since then it has stagnated whilst other clubs have invested and kicked on. United however have thrived off the pitch with lucrative partnerships and the commercial area of the club being well maintained and grown.
I will say this for the Glazers as business people they played a blinder in gaining United (bitter taste) and how it has grown in value over the years. They must have thick skin to ride out all the abuse and vitriol directed at them, they are focused on the profits and the billions they earn from the club will speak the volumes to them unlike the chants at Old Trafford.
I recommend this book, a great read by a respected journalist who is also a football fan.
January 18, 2025
Good insight, reasonably up to date with the latest.
February 12, 2024
Well researched book, content was informative if a bit depressing (as a United fan). My only qualm is that this book feels a bit rushed in parts. Sentences become over-stretched and possibly poorly structured. This is likely due to the speed with which this book was published - there are numerous examples of facts or figures from mid-late 2023. A 2nd edition of this book could be used to amend these issues.
November 8, 2023
The World’s Biggest Cash Machine is a fascinating and well-researched account of how the Glazer family, the American owners of Manchester United, became the most hated figures in the Premier League, and how they transformed the beautiful game into a ruthless business. Chris Blackhurst, a former editor of the Independent and a veteran business journalist, draws on interviews with key insiders and experts to reveal the secrets behind the Glazers’ controversial takeover of the world’s most famous football club, and the consequences for its fans, players, and managers.
The book traces the history of Manchester United from its humble origins as a railway workers’ team in the late 19th century, to its rise to glory under Sir Alex Ferguson, who led the club to 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two Champions League trophies. It also explores the wider context of the Premier League, which became the richest and most popular football league in the world, attracting billionaire owners from Russia, the Middle East, and the United States.
The book focuses on the Glazers’ acquisition of Manchester United in 2005, which was financed by a massive debt of almost £800 million, most of which was secured against the club’s asset.
This figure is now considered ‘small beans’ to the asking price the Glazer family are now seeking purportly a >7 x fold increase.
The book exposes the details of the deal, the role of bankers, lawyers, and advisers, and the opposition from fans, who launched protests, boycotts, and even a breakaway club, FC United of Manchester. The book also examines the impact of the Glazers’ ownership on the club’s performance, finances, and culture, as well as the relationship with Ferguson, who retired in 2013 after a remarkable 27-year reign.
The book is not only a compelling story of a football club, but also a critical analysis of the modern game, which has been shaped by the forces of globalisation, commercialisation, and financialisation. The book argues that the Glazers’ ownership model is a reflection of the capitalist system, which prioritises profit over passion, and exploits the loyalty and emotions of the fans. The book also questions the sustainability and morality of the Glazers’ business strategy, which has left the club with a huge debt burden, and vulnerable to external shocks and challenges.
The World’s Biggest Cash Machine is a must-read for anyone interested in football, business, or indeed Man Utd. It is a well-written, well-informed, and well-argued book, that offers a rare insight into the inner workings of one of the most powerful and influential institutions in the world. It is also a book that raises important questions about the future of the game, and the role of the fans, who are the lifeblood and soul of the sport.
Now having a better understanding of the Glazer family and the debt structure, I can't see this sale happening until it breaches the £10bn mark.
The book traces the history of Manchester United from its humble origins as a railway workers’ team in the late 19th century, to its rise to glory under Sir Alex Ferguson, who led the club to 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and two Champions League trophies. It also explores the wider context of the Premier League, which became the richest and most popular football league in the world, attracting billionaire owners from Russia, the Middle East, and the United States.
The book focuses on the Glazers’ acquisition of Manchester United in 2005, which was financed by a massive debt of almost £800 million, most of which was secured against the club’s asset.
This figure is now considered ‘small beans’ to the asking price the Glazer family are now seeking purportly a >7 x fold increase.
The book exposes the details of the deal, the role of bankers, lawyers, and advisers, and the opposition from fans, who launched protests, boycotts, and even a breakaway club, FC United of Manchester. The book also examines the impact of the Glazers’ ownership on the club’s performance, finances, and culture, as well as the relationship with Ferguson, who retired in 2013 after a remarkable 27-year reign.
The book is not only a compelling story of a football club, but also a critical analysis of the modern game, which has been shaped by the forces of globalisation, commercialisation, and financialisation. The book argues that the Glazers’ ownership model is a reflection of the capitalist system, which prioritises profit over passion, and exploits the loyalty and emotions of the fans. The book also questions the sustainability and morality of the Glazers’ business strategy, which has left the club with a huge debt burden, and vulnerable to external shocks and challenges.
The World’s Biggest Cash Machine is a must-read for anyone interested in football, business, or indeed Man Utd. It is a well-written, well-informed, and well-argued book, that offers a rare insight into the inner workings of one of the most powerful and influential institutions in the world. It is also a book that raises important questions about the future of the game, and the role of the fans, who are the lifeblood and soul of the sport.
Now having a better understanding of the Glazer family and the debt structure, I can't see this sale happening until it breaches the £10bn mark.
February 17, 2024
As an Irish Manchester United fan, let me take you on a whimsical tour of the world's biggest cash machine—not your average ATM, mind you, but the hallowed grounds of Old Trafford, now seemingly repurposed by the Glazers into a financial fortress, akin to a child's piggy bank, but with less access for the actual child.
Picture this: you're a wee lad, your club clutched tightly in your hands like the last sweet in the jar, only for it to be swiped quicker than candy from a baby. But here's the kicker—when we cried for more candy, what we got instead wasn't the sugary relief we hoped for. No, it was a vegetable. And not just any vegetable; a rotten potato that seemed to hark back to the days of the Great Famine.
The financial wizardry of the Glazers is something to behold. They've turned taking candy off others into an art form, claiming it as their own and flipping it for more candy, leaving a trail of metaphorical potato famines in their wake. Their ability to monetize every square inch of Old Trafford and the United brand is akin to turning water into wine, if the water was fans' tears and the wine was cold, hard cash.
Yet, amidst the comedic tragedy of it all, one must tip their hat to their brilliance in the dark arts of finance. They've leveraged assets they didn't own, saddled a historic club with debt, and yet, somehow, emerged on the other side with pockets heavier than a leprechaun's pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. It's as if they attended Hogwarts, but the only spell they mastered was "Accio Cash!"
It's hard not to laugh at the audacity of it all. Like being offered a rotten potato in place of candy, we've watched our beloved club become a playground for financial strategists. And while the soul of football cries out for justice, the Glazers' bank accounts sing a tune of triumph.
So, here's to the world's biggest cash machine, a place where dreams are made (and sold), where the essence of football is distilled into profit margins, and where, despite it all, we can't help but marvel at the sheer, unabashed gall of those pulling the levers.
In conclusion, while we may have been promised candy and given rotten potatoes instead, one can't help but acknowledge the twisted genius behind it. The Glazers may have caused potato famines wherever they went, but in doing so, they've carved out a financial empire that would make even the most cold-hearted economist blush. Here's to hoping one day the machine dispenses something a bit sweeter for us fans.
Picture this: you're a wee lad, your club clutched tightly in your hands like the last sweet in the jar, only for it to be swiped quicker than candy from a baby. But here's the kicker—when we cried for more candy, what we got instead wasn't the sugary relief we hoped for. No, it was a vegetable. And not just any vegetable; a rotten potato that seemed to hark back to the days of the Great Famine.
The financial wizardry of the Glazers is something to behold. They've turned taking candy off others into an art form, claiming it as their own and flipping it for more candy, leaving a trail of metaphorical potato famines in their wake. Their ability to monetize every square inch of Old Trafford and the United brand is akin to turning water into wine, if the water was fans' tears and the wine was cold, hard cash.
Yet, amidst the comedic tragedy of it all, one must tip their hat to their brilliance in the dark arts of finance. They've leveraged assets they didn't own, saddled a historic club with debt, and yet, somehow, emerged on the other side with pockets heavier than a leprechaun's pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. It's as if they attended Hogwarts, but the only spell they mastered was "Accio Cash!"
It's hard not to laugh at the audacity of it all. Like being offered a rotten potato in place of candy, we've watched our beloved club become a playground for financial strategists. And while the soul of football cries out for justice, the Glazers' bank accounts sing a tune of triumph.
So, here's to the world's biggest cash machine, a place where dreams are made (and sold), where the essence of football is distilled into profit margins, and where, despite it all, we can't help but marvel at the sheer, unabashed gall of those pulling the levers.
In conclusion, while we may have been promised candy and given rotten potatoes instead, one can't help but acknowledge the twisted genius behind it. The Glazers may have caused potato famines wherever they went, but in doing so, they've carved out a financial empire that would make even the most cold-hearted economist blush. Here's to hoping one day the machine dispenses something a bit sweeter for us fans.
August 28, 2024
I've been a Manchester United fan since 1968 when they won the European Cup for the first time and I was 8 years old. Which is remarkable really as my Dad was an avid Liverpool fan having been born and grew up there until we moved to Manchester.
Like many books about United I found this to be a very well written and researched book but also pretty depressing and negative. It concerns the finances of the club and how it became an asset to be bought by the Glazers purely for financial gain. It highlights the early days of United and how it was saved from going under by a wealthy Manchester business man James Gibson in 1931. This appears to be the last time it was saved for purely football reasons.
There is great detail about the Edwards family then several attempts to buy it with Rupert Murdoch, Robert Maxwell, the juggling Michael Knighton and eventually the Glazers.
All appeared to view it as an asset to be eventually realized for vast profits. The Glazers it appears borrowed nearly everything to buy the club and then take out hefty dividends. While they seem to never refuse Ferguson money for transfers, their football involvement was very limited. Much to the anger of the United fans.
It seems that the people coming into buy clubs like Manchester United see them as undervalued and with massive potential by comparing it to the revenues of the NFL. The NFL is not really a sport, it's entertainment. I can't watch it. Breaks every 5 minutes with tons of adverts. The ball is in play for about 11 minutes out of a total of 3 hours match time.
There are few clubs where the owners really seem to be in it for the football and not the profits. Sheik Mansour's Man City, Abrahmovic and Chelsea, Simon Jordan's Crystal Palace.
Manchester United has an incredible history and romance with a litany of superb players and the attack, attack, attack playing style that I grew up watching. It seems from this book that Man United has been used as a cash cow. Let's hope Jim Ratcliffe will change all that.
Like many books about United I found this to be a very well written and researched book but also pretty depressing and negative. It concerns the finances of the club and how it became an asset to be bought by the Glazers purely for financial gain. It highlights the early days of United and how it was saved from going under by a wealthy Manchester business man James Gibson in 1931. This appears to be the last time it was saved for purely football reasons.
There is great detail about the Edwards family then several attempts to buy it with Rupert Murdoch, Robert Maxwell, the juggling Michael Knighton and eventually the Glazers.
All appeared to view it as an asset to be eventually realized for vast profits. The Glazers it appears borrowed nearly everything to buy the club and then take out hefty dividends. While they seem to never refuse Ferguson money for transfers, their football involvement was very limited. Much to the anger of the United fans.
It seems that the people coming into buy clubs like Manchester United see them as undervalued and with massive potential by comparing it to the revenues of the NFL. The NFL is not really a sport, it's entertainment. I can't watch it. Breaks every 5 minutes with tons of adverts. The ball is in play for about 11 minutes out of a total of 3 hours match time.
There are few clubs where the owners really seem to be in it for the football and not the profits. Sheik Mansour's Man City, Abrahmovic and Chelsea, Simon Jordan's Crystal Palace.
Manchester United has an incredible history and romance with a litany of superb players and the attack, attack, attack playing style that I grew up watching. It seems from this book that Man United has been used as a cash cow. Let's hope Jim Ratcliffe will change all that.
September 3, 2025
A book that delivered more than the title implied, the author presented Manchester United’s journey as an illustration of the devolution of football as a sport. There is a growing blight on the game that has rich boys now using clubs as urinary projectiles to generate returns on investment through corporate and fan gullibility. Players are exchangeable assets that improve balance sheets and competition is swapped for revenue generation and passionate fans are being replaced by merch bedecked consumers, betters, subscribers and customers. Merit can be swapped by richer global investors for branding and marketing, and success can be creatively imagined: off the field by sales and share price and on the field by invented trophies like the world club championship with nebulously justified clubs competing for riches. Tycoon and superheroes with their own cults if success is threatened can generate their own competition and as in the example of Crystal Palace, replace them in a tournament with a richer owner’s team, just coz my check book says but at other times Red Bull can have its two Teutonic show ponies from Leipzig and Salzburg compete in a suitable show case. This pox flies to the antipodes in the AFL- Aussie rules - where administrators create match ups on the basis of tv pulling power and deny vehemently that it is a fair competition dictated from up on high and that the fans don’t understand. Why do they get away with it - emperors know that in the moment of the ball in motion on grass, bread and circuses are the laser light for kittens to the lovers of what used to be known as sport.
January 1, 2025
Extremely interesting for any fan of football, no matter your club.
I agree with another review that it was rushed in parts, particularly the end, but I learned so much about the club I support.
I started following United like most Irish people my age when they were winning all around them and on every tv in the country. As a young boy of 7 or 8 United were my only option. When the Glazers took over I was 11 and living in Cork, so I didn’t know what was going on, or what had happened with the Rock of Gibraltar.
I have read a few books on United over the years and this one has informed me the most. I know all about the glazers and the debt but this book fills in all the details I never knew would be interesting.
Would definitely recommend, even if I am slightly depressed after reading how the club has been treated by several owners over the years.
I agree with another review that it was rushed in parts, particularly the end, but I learned so much about the club I support.
I started following United like most Irish people my age when they were winning all around them and on every tv in the country. As a young boy of 7 or 8 United were my only option. When the Glazers took over I was 11 and living in Cork, so I didn’t know what was going on, or what had happened with the Rock of Gibraltar.
I have read a few books on United over the years and this one has informed me the most. I know all about the glazers and the debt but this book fills in all the details I never knew would be interesting.
Would definitely recommend, even if I am slightly depressed after reading how the club has been treated by several owners over the years.
April 13, 2024
As a Manchester United fan, when I saw this book at the library I had to get it out. It is a detailed account of the ownership history with a plethora of facts and stories about the Glazers that paints a very dismal picture of the clubs ownership status. The Glazers self indulged tendencies and lack of care for the supporters shone throughout. One thing I struggled with as someone without a business or finance background was some of the ‘wordy technical jargon’. I did however enjoy the story about Rock of Gibraltar and Sir Alex Ferguson as I wasn’t too aware of that story.
I hope that I can read another book about United ownership in the next 10-20 years that has a lot more enjoyable, successful, winning stories… as this account was pretty negative.
I hope that I can read another book about United ownership in the next 10-20 years that has a lot more enjoyable, successful, winning stories… as this account was pretty negative.
February 14, 2024
(Coming from a united fan) An amazing piece of United history which I would love to read again sometimes in the future. The best thing is that this is not just a history book on the greatest football club in the world ;-). It's a great thriller. There's anticipation of what's coming next, there's drama. The book is a very fast paced read which provides you insights on the backoffice setup, politics and motives of all the characters involved. In the end, it does sound like a personal diatribe against the Glazers (something which we have read multiple time in newspapers), but that was always expected. Overall, amazing read. Loved it!!!
February 15, 2024
While the idea of Manchester United suffering a prolonged period of mediocrity causes me pleasure, any sports fan should be disturbed by the premise presented here: teams are getting owned by people who look upon their acquisitions as little more than sponges to suck up as much profit as possible. It is a little hard to follow the financial machinations going on here, but the message that such things as loyalty to fans and community mean little to these owners comes through clear. And it all pretty much came about at United because of a horse...
December 10, 2023
Fascinating look into the financial dealings of the Glazer family and how they’ve profited as a family even while the underlying asset (United) withers away under more debt.
March 10, 2024
Really good. About the Glazer family and Manchester United.
May 17, 2024
An excellent account of how the Glazers made their money and how it is reflected in the way they run Man United.
June 13, 2024
Both depressing and cathartic!
June 24, 2024
Surprised at how much I liked this!
October 29, 2024
Good read, but some small, yet glaring mistakes.
November 18, 2024
All football fans need to read this.
Shocking
Shocking
January 14, 2025
Second book complete. I hate the Glazers. Bring back the old mancunian ways. Up the reds!
Very well written
Very well written
July 26, 2025
great book describing how this vile family took over the club great read
March 10, 2025
A brilliant book that picks apart the Glazer takeover and ownership of Manchester United. Malcolm Glazer (and his equally horrible kids) managed to acquire one of the world’s greatest sporting institutions through a highly controversial leveraged buyout, which loaded the previously debt-free, profit-making club with a debt so heavy it is still present 20 years later, even after £1bn has been paid on interest, and over £150m in dividends. Alex Ferguson managed to keep the club at the top for the remainder of his time as manager, but after he retired the impact of the Glazers negligence has become more evident every year, with United now sitting 14th in a league they had previously dominated for 20 years.
Even though the Glazers deserve all the hatred that is levelled at them, the FA and Premier League deserve just as much scorn. They stood by and let these parasites in so they could destroy a club from within. These are the very institutions that are supposed to protect the clubs they oversee, and instead they turn a blind eye until the issue can’t be avoided anymore, be it leveraged buyouts, state ownership, financial fair play etc.
Even though the Glazers deserve all the hatred that is levelled at them, the FA and Premier League deserve just as much scorn. They stood by and let these parasites in so they could destroy a club from within. These are the very institutions that are supposed to protect the clubs they oversee, and instead they turn a blind eye until the issue can’t be avoided anymore, be it leveraged buyouts, state ownership, financial fair play etc.
May 22, 2025
Very interesting book, did not know a lot about man utd history. This includes very relevant and interesting history. I found it to be very enjoyable, just frusterating how much the glazers suck.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews